The syndrome of hyperparathyroid crisis is being recognized with increasing frequency as the criteria for diagnosis have evolved. Although the symptomatology may be varied and at times confusing, at least 90 cases have been documented in the literature1-4 since 1923, when Dawson and Struthers5 first reported a case of hyperparathyroidism rapidly progressing to death. This case report demonstrates a severe, rapidly developing hypercalcemia, exceeding 31 mg/100 cc during the crisis, with survival of the patient after removal of a parathyroid adenoma.
Report of a Case
A 49-year-old, markedly obese white man, was first seen as an outpatient on Nov 13, 1964, complaining of pain in the lower extremities, dyspnea on exertion, weakness, headaches, and occasional nausea and vomiting intermittently for the past two months. He further complained of unusual constipation after a lifetime of normal bowel habits. There was no history of peptic ulcer or pancreatitis, but he